Fantasy Football Week 13: Best and Worst Waiver-Wire Pickups

As the fantasy football regular season nears the finish line, your team may need a solid pickup in order to get over the hump for that playoff spot. On the other hand, a poor pickup could potential cost you a very important late-season matchup.

Allow me to offer you a few suggestions to help spark your point production and guide you away from a costly mistake.

Burleson has been absent for the majority of the season due to injuries sustained in a car accident. The wide receiver made his return to the Lions lineup in Week 12 and put up some solid numbers in his return.

Burleson hauled in seven reception for 77 yards and a touchdown. Burleson loses some targets due to the fact that he plays alongside the most dynamic receiver in the league, Calvin Johnson.

The Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day. Green Bay has been reeling since the loss of Aaron Rodgers, and the Lions have a major opportunity to take control of the NFC North. The Packers will be forced to double-team Johnson, which should allow the reliable Burleson to put up another solid stat line.

If you're in need of a flex option or No. 2 receiver, you wont find a better option than Burleson for this week.

2. Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals

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Palmer has been as good as any quarterback in the league over the last month of the season. Palmer has four straight games with at least two touchdowns and is coming off of back-to-back 300-plus yard passing performances.

If you're in search of a quarterback, then Palmer appears to be a safe bet this week.

The Cardinals have been playing well and face the Philadelphia Eagles this week. The Eagles defense has been awful against the pass this season, and with the way Palmer has been filling up the stat sheet, there is no reason to believe that trend won't continue.

Miller has split carries with Daniel Thomas all season. Thomas was lost for the season this past week after tearing ligaments in his ankle.

On the surface this looks like a boost for Miller, who will almost certainly receive the bulk of the carries now. However, Miami has been awful at rushing the football this season, averaging just 85 yards per game.

The Dolphins face the league's No. 1 rush defense on the road this week when they take on the Jets. The Jets are allowing just 72 rushing yards a game. This spells disaster for Miller, who has scored just two touchdowns on the season.

By any means, avoid Miller this week.

2. Chad Henne, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Henne has never been the type of player that would blow you away. That being said, the Jaguars have won two of their last three with Henne at the helm. In Henne's last three games he has recorded completion percentages of 60.9, 64.3 and 71.9.

He has greatly improved his accuracy but is still prone to some head-scratching mistakes. In the last three games he has thrown four picks and just one touchdown.

Henne and the Jags are playing better as of late but are facing a Browns team that is desperate for a win. The Browns have the fifth-ranked passing defense in the league and fourth-ranked total defense.

This one should be an offensive nightmare for Henne and the Jaguars. Don't be fooled by the increase in accuracy, Henne is as risky a start as any player in the league.

Now you know what players are a must-grab and which ones to avoid like the plague. Hopefully the waiver wire is friendly to you this week and your fantasy squad can make that late season push to the playoffs. Game on.